Coal-mining machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.

W. HILTON.

GOAL MINING MACHINE. No. 287,436. j Patented Oct. 80, 188 3. 12 79.1.

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M za;e/zor N. PETins. Pholobmagrapher. wmhmmou. v. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sneak-Sheet 2. W. HILTON. GOAL MININGMAGHINB.

' Patented 05a. 30, 1883.

' UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM HILTON ,gOF BARTON, OHIO.

COAL-MINING MACHINE.-

SPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,436, dated October30, 1883.

Application filed May 12,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HILTON, a. resident of Barton, in the countyof Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Goal-Mining Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention is an improved coal-mining machine of that class which areprovided with revolving cutters, and are adapted to be moved parallelwith the face of the material to be cut.

The apparatus, like those heretofore known, is designed for use incoal-mines, to channel the coal, in order that it may be readilyremoved, though it is obvious that the machine might be used in othersituations for a similar purpose with the same effect. I

It is my object to improve the entire structure of the machine and itsoperating parts, so as to keep it within reasonable limits as tosize,while at the same time it is simple in construction and effectivein operation.

The invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement ofthe various parts of the machine, whereby the object sought is attainedin a comparatively simple and economical manner.

In the accompanying drawingsthe machine is fully represented completeand in detail.

Figure 1- represents a side elevation of the machine with the cuttingtool reduced inlength. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line at a; ofFig. 1, looking to the left; and Fig. 3 is a like section, looking tothe right. Fig. 4 is a detail view, showing the position and form of thecutters. Fig. 5 is a detail of the gearing "which operates to move themachine laterally. 1 I The frame of the machine is represented at A. Itmay be of any suitable size and construction; but I prefer to constructit in the manner shown, and of the following dimensions: height fourfeet six inches, length three feet, and breadth two feet, though, ofcourse,

these dimensions may be varied materially the corner-posts thereof, inwhich the axles have their bearings. They have upon their outer endsspur-wheels b I), one at each corner of the machine, and upon which itmoves, as hereinafter more fully explained. \Vithin this main frame,sliding in suitable grooves or ways, is a second frame, B, which carriesthe operating mechanism. I prefer to make it, as shown, withcorner-posts c c and top and bottom pieces marked, respectively, d d, ee. To the end pieces d d of the upper part I secure extensions orstandards f f, supporting a cross-piece, g, which acts as a guide forthe piston-rods of the cylinders, and serves to sustain the devices,hereinafter described, for bearing against the roof of the mine.

I'have shown the cylinders C O as supported upon the end pieces 6 e ofthe frame B, which is a convenientloeation, and as it is my intention torun the machine with compressed air I connect the cylinders, by means ofa suitable coupling, to an air-engine outside of the mine, whichoperates in the ordinary manner.

The tool-carrying shaft extends the length of the frame B, and has itsbearings in the front and rear pieces of thelower part thereof, directlybelow the air-cylinders in the vertical center of the machine, as thispartis necessarily made very strong, to support the cylinders; Thisshaft is marked D, and is provided with a beveled-gear wheel, B, at thepoint shown, which gear meshes with a simi lar beveled gear, Z, upon avertical shaft, E, which has its bearings in the horizontal crossbars mn, extending across the center of the frame B, at the bottom and topthereof, as

shown. The vertical shaft has upon its upper end another but largerbeveled gear, and this (marked 0) meshes into a smaller beveled gear,upon the horizontal crank-shaft F. The shaft F has its bearings insuitable boxes on the cross-bars q q of the frame B, and, through themechanism to be described, 'connecting said shaft with the piston-rodsof the IOO cylinders, communicates power from said pistons to thevertical shaft E by means of the gears 0 1), before described.

The upright cylinders C O are provided with piston-rods I I, workingvertically in said cylinders, and having a support for their upper ends,1', in guide-slots in the cross-bar g of the frame 13. The piston-rods,at the upper ends, I prefer to make square in cross-section tocorrespond to the guide-slots in the cross-piece, which insures greateraccuracy of movement. As these rods are alike in all respects, thedescription of one will suffice for a clear understanding of theirconstruction.

At the point at, about half-way the length of' the piston-rod, is ahorizontal extension, G, slotted for nearly its whole length, as shown,and adapted to receive a sliding block, 8, which is perforated, asshown, to receive the pin t of the crank-arm of the shaft F, hereto-.fore referred to. The block is held in its 130-. sition within the slotby a shoulder, 2, on the upper or lower edge of the said block. Theshaft F has a similar arm andpin upon the opposite end, fitting inasimilar slidingblock in the slotted piston upon that side, theonlydifference being in the position of the crankarms, they beingsecured on the shaft at right angles to each other. By this arrangementalternate depression and elevation of the crankarms of the shaft F isaccomplished, and acontinuous rotary motion is communicated through thesaid shaft to the vertical shaft E, and from thence to the shaftcarrying the cutter-bar.

As before mentioned, I make the frame B vertically adjustable in themain frame A, in order that I may begin the boring operation at anyheight within certain limits, (governed by the proportions of themachine and the place of working.) This is accomplished by providingsuitable ways or guides for the inner frame to slide upon, andscrew-threaded rods 4 4, secured in the top pieces of the inner frame,one on each side, extending up through holes in the outside frame andfitted with hand-nuts upon their ends, the adjustment of the frame beingaccomplished by turning these nuts either to the right or left,according to the adjustment desired.

As this machine is intended to first bore an opening in the coal-bed,and then move parallel to the face of such bed in either direction,cutting as it moves, it is desirable that this lateral movement of themachine be automatic and capable of being regulated to the movements ofthe other parts of the apparatus. This is accomplished in the followingmanner: Upon each. side of the vertical shaft E is placed a rod, is,which extends the height of the outer frame, passing through the upperpart thereof, where it is held by a boss, 5, or in any suitable way.This rod passes through the cross-pieces m n of. the inner fraine,downto the axle a,before mentioned, where it meshes with a gear, b, on theaxle through a worm, 7 on its lower end.

Motion is communicated to this rod, and through it tothe axle, by meansof a cog wheel, 8, on the vertical'shaft E above the cross-bar n,gearing with a pinion, 9, splined to the rod, as shown. This rod and itsconnections are duplicated upon the opposite side of the machine, andderive their power from the wheel 8 in a similar manner. It will beunderstood, however, that when it is desired to have the machine move ina certain direction the pinion upon one side must be thrown out ofconnection with the gear-wheel 8,when the rod upon one side only will berevolved to cause the machine to travel in the proper direction. Toreverse the direction of the machine it is only necessaryto place thefirstpinion into engagement with the teeth of the cogwheel 8 and throwthe pinion on the opposite side out of engagement therewith. This isreadily accomplished by the means shown, which are of ordinaryconstruction, and need no particular description. It is sufficient tosay that the wheel or pinion, being splined to the rod, is capable ofbeing raised clear of the teeth of the wheel 8 by the device shown, andis held in that position byapin, 20, which prevents the return ofthelever 21 after the pinion has been elevated.

The rods in are grooved for about half their length upon one side, inorder that the adj ustment of the inner frame will not interfere withthe relative position of the pinions splined to such'rods. Upon thecross-bar g of the inner frame I adj ustably secure a device, K, adaptedto bear against the roof of the mine, to give additional support to themachine as it is moved. It consists of a threaded shank having a topplate, 10, and side pieces, 11, between which is placed a toothed wheel,12, the said wheel being journaled in block 13, sliding in slots in thewalls of the side pieces. A spiral or other suitable spring is placedbeneath each of the blocks 13, which keeps the wheel elevated to itsgreatest extent, but at the same time yields readily to theirregularities of the surface as the wheel passes over such. Thethreaded shank of this device passes through a sleeve, 14, in thecross-piece g, to which sleeve it is splined, and the sleeve and shankhave therefore rotary movement together. By this means the operator canby the handles 15 turn the device K in any direction, and in order thatit may be securely locked in position, I have provided the sleeve 14with a circular head, 16, notched as shown, with which notches alocking-key, 17, engages and holds it in the required position. Ahand-nut, 18, is also provided upon the threaded shank, to adjust itvertically.

The cutter-bar is represented at Lin Fig. 1. I prefer to have it extendfive feet beyond the machine, and provide it upon its periphery withthirty (more or less) of the cutters shown in the detail, Fig. 4. Uponthe end of the bar, however, I prefer to use a cutter of the.

form shown, which is better adapted for the purpose required of itthatis, the boring into the bed of coal. The side cutters are each made withthree or more inclined faces, as shown in Fig. 4, the first incline uponthe left being the greatest, and the next a little less, 850., so that asingle cutter presents three outting-edges, one continuing the out wherethe other leaves it, this action cutting the material regularly andpreventing clogging, as the material is thrown from the tool as fast asit is cut.

The machine may be made very cheaply of suitable material, and whenconstructed in the manner indicated all the parts will work with suchregularity as to allow the machine to be turned upon its side and workin that position as well as when in an upright position, with theexception that it could not be moved automatically. \Vhen the machine isfirst set in motion,both of the pinions 9 9 are thrown out of connectionwith the wheel 8, and the machine forced up against the bed of coal,into which the cutter soon makes its way. One or the other of the gears9 is then put in connection with the gear-wheel 8 and the machine movedin the direction desired, the side cutters operating upon the materialin an obvious manner.

It is not essential that the details be followed closely, as they may bevaried materially without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 7 1s- 1. In a coal-mining machine, a revolvingcutter-bar carrying a cutter or cutters adapted to cut laterally andlongitudinally, mounted in fixed hearings in a frame which carries thedriving mechanism, and which is adapted to be adjusted vertically, amain frame which carries the vertically-adjustable frame, and mechanismconnected with the driving mechanism on the main frame,whereby the wholeis moved laterally, as set forth.

2. The combination of the outer and inner frames, the rods 70 k, meshinginto gears on the axles a a by means of worm-gears on their lower ends,and the pinions 9 9, splined to said rods and adapted to be thrown intoor out of connection with the gear-wheel 8 on the drivingshaft E,whereby when one of said gears is in connection with said wheel 8 therod to which the said pinion is connected is revolved, and through themeans described gives corresponding movement to the axles to move themachine laterally.

In testimony that I' do claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix mysignature in pres ence of two witnesses.

I lli WILLIAM HILTON.

I mark. \Vitnesses:

WALTER A. BLOOMFIELD, E. F. HAY.

